Christie, the King's Servant eBook

I felt then that my work was over, and that the best
thing that I could do would be to go to bed.
But I glanced back from the door as I went out, and
I saw the little hands held out, and I heard Duncan
sob like a child as he cried, ’Oh, my little
lad, my own little John, I never thought to see you
again!’

[Illustration]

Chapter X

WE KNOW

The next day Duncan was able to tell me what he had
passed through during that terrible night. It
seems he was separated from the other boats by the
very first outburst of the gale, and never saw them
again through the long hours of that night of storm.
For some considerable time he and his mates, by straining
every nerve, were able to keep the water out of their
boat; but as the night went on, and the sea grew rougher
and the waves seemed mountains high, they were compelled
at last to own that their attempt was hopeless.
‘At that time,’ said Duncan, ’I
just trusted my soul again to Christ, for I expected
the next wave would sweep us to the bottom.’

’Was I frightened, sir, did you say? No,
I think not; I felt more awed like, if you understand,
and in them few moments all sorts of thoughts seemed
to be running through my head, but through them all
was the thought of my poor lass, of Polly and little
John. Yes, sir, of Polly and little John, and
I cried to Him as alone could help me, “O God,”
I said, “save me, for Polly and little John
want me so bad!” And He heard my prayer, sir.
I’ve often thought how them fishermen cried to
Him in the storm that day, “Master, save us,
we perish!” they said; and He heard their cry,
didn’t He, sir? And He heard mine.
Yes, He heard mine, for when the wave did come which
carried us over, the Mary Ann was driven right past
where we were struggling in the water, and we caught
hold on her. We clung on for dear life, sir, but
we couldn’t have clung there many minutes, for
the sea was that cold and icy our hands was well-nigh
frozen. But God Almighty knew how to save us,
and He sent a steamer to pick us up, in less than
ten minutes after we went overboard. And they
were good to us, sir, for all they were foreign
folk aboard. They warmed us, and gave us hot
coffee, and lent us dry clothes, and they ran into
the Hull docks in the afternoon and landed us there.
Well, sir, you may be sure I came home as quick as
ever I could, for I thought maybe I should never see
my little lad again. Hasn’t God been good
to us, now hasn’t He, sir?’ he concluded,
as he gently patted his little boy’s hand.

The doctor gave a much better report of little John
that day, although he said he was not yet out of danger.
But from that time he improved slowly but steadily,
and before very long he was able to lie once more
in his father’s arms, and to stroke his face
with his little thin hand.

It was very touching to see the love and the gratitude
of both Duncan and Polly; they could not say enough
about the help and comfort I had given them in their
time of trouble, small though I felt these to have
been. If I had been a prince, I think they could
not have made more of me, and I believe I should have
been altogether spoiled if I had stayed in Runswick
Bay much longer.